EMERALD cowboys Shane Kenny and Campbell Hodson are in a close battle for the team roping header pro tour title in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
The last rodeos in the current season are on Saturday at Comet (Qld) and Mt Hunter (NSW).
Kenny has a narrow lead over Hodson and the winner might only be decided after the two leaders compete this weekend.
There are 193 nominations for the Comet Rodeo from 6pm Saturday, including Mitch Eastwell in the Rope and Tie. A large crowd is expected at the Comet Rodeo Grounds.
The second rodeo of the weekend will be the K Ranch Rodeo from 6pm at Mt Hunter on Saturday.
Some of the favourites for the K Ranch Rodeo are Cameron Webster and Tom Kerr in the Saddle Bronc. Mt Hunter has become a hub for rodeo in New South Wales with the Xtreme Bulls Pro Tour finals on November 17-18.
Kenny and Hodson are well ahead of the next two on the team roping standings, Pine Grove (Vic) rider Terry Evison and Charters Towers cowboy Darcy Kesch.
Kesch won two junior titles in the APRA last year and is making the most of his first season in open competition.
In team roping heeler standings, Yass (NSW) rider Clay Bush has an unbeatable lead over Queensland rider Liam Davison and Victorian star Aaron Bookluck.
The top 15 in all eight APRA events will qualify for the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals at the Warwick Showgrounds on October 24-27.
Riders will qualify as individuals and then the top 15 headers and top 15 heelers will form their own teams. One likely pairing is Warwick cowboy Jeff Miller who is fifth in header standings and son Kobe who is fourth among the heelers.
The four rounds of the national finals will be on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of rodeo week in Warwick.
Second division and junior Warwick Rodeo events will be held from the Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, October 25-28, at the Warwick Showgrounds.
The riders with the most prizemoney will have the advantage in the finals as prizemoney won during the season will count towards rider’s tallies at the national finals.
Upcoming events
September 8 – Comet Benefit Rodeo (Qld)
September 8 – K Ranch Rodeo, M t Hunter (NSW)
October 24-27 – Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals (Qld)
October 25-28 – Warwick Second Division and Junior Rodeo (Qld)
October 26 – Hobart Show Bulls and Barrels (Tas)
November 3 – Melton Mowbray Rodeo (Tas)
November 10 – Kapunda Rodeo (SA)
November 17-18 – Xtreme Bulls Pro Tour Finals at K Ranch, Mt Hunter (NSW)
November 24 – Wynyard Rodeo (Tas).